Petunia plant named ‘Duesursky’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Duesursky’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large light violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESURSKY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duesursky’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Petunia plants with numerous unique and attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2008 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number T06-3150-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number F-19-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duesursky’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duesursky’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large light violet blue-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have darker violet blue-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Petunia are more outwardly spreading than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the Petunia×hybrida ‘KEIlavbu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,542. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Petunia differed primarily from plants of ‘KEIlavbu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more compact and had shorter         internodes than plants of ‘KEIlavbu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia were more freely branching than         plants of ‘KEIlavbu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘KEIlavbu’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘KEIlavbu’ had violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph comprises a close-up view of typical flowers, flower buds and leaves of ‘Duesursky’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under commercial production practices. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Duesursky’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number T06-3150-001, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number F-19-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly             spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with about             eight to ten lateral branches developing after pinching;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 11 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 19 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.75 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 144C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.2 mm. Diameter: About 4.8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Large salverform flowers;             single flowers arising from leaf axils; freely flowering             habit with usually about 25 to 30 open flowers and flower             buds per plant; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,             plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to six             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter:             About 1.1 cm. Color: Close to 91A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 3.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.9 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rippled,             glabrous. Throat texture: Rippled, glabrous. Tube texture:             Rippled, pubescent. Color: Petal lobe, when opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 91A; venation, close             to 193A; color becoming closer to 98D with development.             Petal lobe, when opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 92B; venation, close to 149B. Flower throat: Close             to 155A; venation, close to 175C. Flower tube: Close to 149D             and 162C; venation, close to 175D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a             star-shaped calyx. Sepal length: About 2.1 cm. Sepal width:             About 3.75 mm. Sepal shape: Oblong. Sepal apex: Rounded.             Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth. Color, immature and mature, upper surface:             Close to 137D. Color, immature and mature, lower surface:             Close to 137D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close             to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             155C. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther length: About 1.5 mm.             Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 158A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm.             Style color: Close to 149A. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma             color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 145B.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Duesursky’ as illustrated and described. 